Jerseys of the Tour de France Home > Events > Cycling > Tour de France > Jerseys Jerseys of the Tour de France In the Tour, a colored jersey is generally associated with each prize, and the current holder of the prize is required to wear the jersey when racing. The rider leading a classification at the end of a stage is required to wear the corresponding jersey during the next stage. Jerseys are awarded in a ceremony immediately following the stage. Where a single rider leads in the competition for more than one jersey, they wear the most prestigious jersey to which they are entitled, and the second-placed rider in each of the other classifications becomes entitled to wear the corresponding jersey. Yellow Jersey The yellow jersey, known in French as the maillot jaune, is worn by the overall time leader, and is the most prized jersey. It is awarded by calculating the total combined race time up to that point for each rider. The yellow jersey was first awarded in 1919 to make the race leader stand out. The color yellow was chosen because the pages of the race sponsor's magazine, L'Auto, were yellow. Green Jersey The green jersey, known in French as the maillot vert, is awarded to the cyclist with the highest number of sprint points.

Points for this jersey are gained by the riders who finish first, second, etc., at the end of each stage. The number of points for each place and the number of riders rewarded varies depending on the type of stage as the flatter stages are more likely to result in a sprint finish. Flat stages give the winner 35 points down to 1 point for the 25th rider; medium mountain stages give the winner 25 points down to 1 point for the 20th rider; high mountain stages give the winner 20 points down to 1 point for the 15th rider. Points are also awarded for individual time trial stages: 15 for the winner down to 1 for the 10th rider. Additional points are available at intermediate sprint contests, usually occurring 2 or 3 times in each stage at pre-determined locations; currently 6, 4 and 2 points are available to the first 3 riders at each sprint. Polka Dot Jersey The winner of the King of the Mountain wears a white jersey with red dots (known as the maillot à pois rouges in French), which is commonly referred to as the "polka dot jersey".

Although the best climber was first recognized in 1933 as the "King of the Mountain", the distinctive polka dot jersey was not introduced until 1975. The colors were decided by the then sponsor, Poulain Chocolate, to match a popular product. At the top of each climb in the Tour, there are points awarded for the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are divided into categories, from 1 to 4 based on their difficulty with 1 being the most difficult, measured as a function of their steepness and length. A fifth category, called Hors categorie (outside category) is formed by mountains even more difficult than those of the number 1 category. In 2004, the scoring system was changed so that the first rider over a fourth category climb was awarded 3 points while the first to complete a hors category climb would win 20 points. Further points over a fourth category climb are only for the top three places while on a hors category climb the top ten riders are rewarded. Also, beginning in 2004, the points scored on the final climb of the day were doubled if such a climb was at least a second category climb.

White Jersey A lesser classification is that for the white jersey (known as the maillot blanc in French), which is like the yellow jersey, but only open for young riders (those who are less than 25 years old on January 1 of the year the Tour is ridden). Other (non-jersey) Awards There is a special award for the cyclist that shows the most "fighting spirit" as determined by a group of judges based on points awarded to riders who made particularly attacking moves that day. The rider with most points in total gets a white-on-red (instead of a black-on-white) identification number. Then there is a team classification which is determined by adding the time of the first three riders from each team after each stage. Historically, the team classification is not associated with a particular jersey design, though starting in 2006, the leading team wears a yellow number attached to their jersey instead of the standard white. Old Jerseys There are a few jersey that are no longer awarded. There used to be a red jersey awarded for the standings in non-stage-finish sprints. This jersey and award was abolished in 1989.

The red jersey was determined by adding points which were awarded to the first three riders to pass two or three intermediate locations during the stage. These sprints also scored points towards the green jersey and bonus seconds towards the overall classification, as well as cash prizes offered by the residents of the area where the sprint took place. The sprints still remain in the Tour with the bonus seconds, prizes and points towards the green jersey are still awarded There was also a combination jersey, which had a patchwork design, with areas resembling each individual jersey design. This jersey was presented to the leader of a points system based on standings for the yellow, green, red, and polka-dot jerseys. This was abolished in 1989, the same year the red jersey was abolished. Other Jerseys Rainbow Jersey The current world champion can wear the rainbow jersey when he competes in the Tour de France. National Jerseys The current national road race champions can wear their national jerseys in "ordinary stages", while the national time-trial champions are allowed to wear their national jerseys in the time-trial stages only.

Share: Tour de France: The jerseys - Cycling Weekly Cycling Weekly 0shares 0shares We explain what the yellow, green, polka-dot and white jerseys worn by riders in the Tour de France represent Yellow, green, white and polka-dot jerseys are awarded to riders during the Tour de France if they lead one of four distinct classifications. The jersey for each classification is awarded to the leader of that classification at the end of each stage, and the recipient earns the right to wear it during the following day’s stage. Here we take a brief look at what they are and how they are won. Yellow jersey of overall race leader Yellow jersey – overall classification leader The Tour de France yellow jersey is the most coveted item of clothing in professional cycling. The wearer is the rider who has completed the race in the least amount of time, and as such tops the overall or general classification of the race. Green jersey of points classification leader Green jersey – points classification leader Points are awarded to riders according to the position that they finish each stage, plus points are also awarded for intermediate sprints during some stages. Stage winners get the most points, with less points awarded to those that cross second, third, etc.

The points are then tallied up after each stage and added to points won in all previous stages. The green jersey is awarded to the rider with the most points. Iconic polka dot jersey of the King of the Mountains Polka-dot jersey – King of the Mountains classification leader Mountains points are awarded to riders who crest the Tour de France’s climbs first. The amount of points awarded depends on the severity or ‘category’ of the mountain – the bigger it is, the more points are on offer. The points are tallied up after each stage and added to points won in all previous stages. The distinctive white-with-red-dots jersey is given to the rider with the most mountains points. White jersey of best young rider White jersey – Best young rider classification leader The least distinctive of all of the classification jerseys – it’s plain white – is awarded to the under-26 rider who has completed the Tour de France in the least amount of time. Non-jersey classifications There are two further classifications that do not earn the winner(s) a coloured jersey – the Combativity Award and Team Classification.

The Combativity award isn’t a classification as such, as the award is given to a rider who has been deemed by a race jury to have shown ‘fighting spirit’ during each individual stage. However, a ‘Super Combativity’ award is handed out on the final stage. The Team Classification is based on the squad which has collectively completed the race in the least amount of time. Tour de France jersey colours and prize money – a guide - BikeRadar BikeRadar Procycling Magazine Procycling brings you the colour, action and drama of the world's most spectacular sport in a glossy and dynamic magazine. It's the authoritative, worldwide voice of international professional road racing, distributed in every country where there are English-speaking fans. With exclusive features and spectacular photography, Procycling brings to life the complexities, rivalries and hardships of the European professional scene. Cycling Plus Cycling Plus is the manual for the modern road cyclist. Whether you're cycling weekly, an occasional new rider or a Tour de France fan you’ll find everything you need. Every issue is packed with expert reviews of the latest road bikes and gear, inspirational routes and rides, evocative features that take you inside every aspect of cycling and unmatched nutrition, fitness and training advice.

What Mountain Bike UK What Mountain Bike is the magazine that gets to the heart of what matters in mountain biking. Whether it's new bikes, fresh kit, inspiring photography or the low down on the latest trail developments, What Mountain Bike has something for every rider. Our team cuts through jargon and marketing spin to tell you what you need to know, with honest, informed opinions and a wealth of experience. Mountain Biking UK Mountain Biking UK celebrates everything that is great about mountain biking, enabling people of all abilities and ages to have a better time on their bike. MBUK brings you all the latest news, coolest kit, plus exclusive info on the newest and best bikes that you can buy. June 28, 2014 8:00am GMT Share on Facebook Tour de France jersey colours and prize money - a guide Plus other rules explained and frequently asked questions answered 1 / 9 All the 2013 jerseys together.

L-R: Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp), Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Chris Froome (Sky), Peter Sagan (Cannondale) (Tim de Waele) 2 / 9 Chris Froome accepts his yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees in Paris last year. Can he make it two in a row? (Tim de Waele) The white jersey for the best young rider (Courtesy) The Tour de France yellow jersey, with the white rose of Yorkshire emblem (Courtesy) The green jersey for the most consistent finisher (Courtesy) The disinctive polka dot jersey for the best climber (Courtesy) Speeds in the Tour can be very high, over 60km/h on the flat sometimes (AFP/Getty Images) 8 / 9 Mountain categories are decided by the severity of the climb and its position in the stage, among other things (AFP/Getty Images) 9 / 9 Not everyone can cross the line at once.

To avoid everyone contesting the finish, each rider in a given bunch is awarded the same time (AFP/Getty Images) Skip Ad On Saturday, 5 July, the 2014 Tour de France will begin in Yorkshire and a battle for the yellow jersey will start. While competition for the fabled maillot jaune towers over the three-week race, other contests add to the rich tapestry of the race's 101st edition. Here, BikeRadar runs through the meanings behind the yellow, green, polka dot and white jersey colours, and who we think are the favourites are to win them. Yellow jersey (maillot jaune) Awarded to the rider with the lowest aggregated time after each stage. For 2014, the route contains numerous opportunities for contenders to attack. There are six designated mountain stages, of which five are summit finishes. This year there's just one time trial – a 54km race on stage 20 that could be decisive in annointing the winner. Along the way, yellow jersey favourites will have to avoid crashes and beware of traps set by rival teams in crosswinds or over tricky terrain.

Unlike the Giro d’Italia , there are no time bonuses awarded for winning stages.The final overall winner of the yellow jersey will take home €450,000, which will typically be split among his teammates. Favourites: Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Tejay van Garderen (BMC) The tour de france yellow jersey, with the white rose of yorkshire emblem: the tour de france yellow jersey, with the white rose of yorkshire emblem Tour de France maillot jaune Green jersey (maillot vert) The green jersey points competition was established more than 60 years ago for the most consistent finisher. Competition rules mean it’s weighted towards sprinters – more points are on offer on flat stages than medium mountain, high mountain and individual TT stages. On a sprint stage, the winner collects 45 points; on a medium mountain stage, 30 points; in the high mountains and individual time trial stages, just 20 points. Points are awarded on a sliding scale down to 15th place.

Additionally, green jersey points are awarded at intermediate sprints, down to 15 riders – 20 points for first place down to one for the 15th rider. The competition structure means strategy is just as key as pure speed – contenders can gamble all and target the finales of the nine flat sprint stages, or try to escape the peloton and hoover up points on intermediate sprints. It’s an intriguing battle that begins on the very first day and can last right up to the final sprint on the Champs-Élysées. The winner will collect €25,000. Favourites: Peter Sagan ( Cannondale ), Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Marcel Kittel The green jersey for the most consistent finisher: the green jersey for the most consistent finisher The maillot vert is for the most consistent finisher Polka dot jersey Red polka dots denote the best climber, defined by the rider who accumulates the most points cresting hills and mountains at the front of the race. Summits are classified according to difficulty – fourth category climbs are mild, HC climbs are leg breakers.

As with the green jersey, points are awarded on sliding scales for lesser-placed finishers. In a further twist, polka dot points are doubled on the five summit finish days (La Planche des Belle Filles, Chamrousse, Risoul, Pla d'Adet and Hautacam). The battle for the jersey will likely burst into life on stage nine when the peloton tackle six categorised climbs during the 170km stage. The probable route to the €25,000 prize lies in targeting category one (10 points for the winner) and HC climbs (25 points) and being very close to the front on days when points are doubled. The structure means someone well-placed on the general classification stands a good chance of collecting this jersey. Favourites: Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol), Vincenzo Nibali, Thibaut Pinot The disinctive polka dot jersey for the best climber: the disinctive polka dot jersey for the best climber Specialist climbers will be after the polka dot jersey White jersey Awarded to the best young rider in the general classification.

To be eligible for the €20,000 prize, riders must be aged 25 or under. Favourites: Tejay van Garderen BMC; Rohan Dennis ( Garmin -Sharp) The white jersey for the best young rider: the white jersey for the best young rider The simple white jersey Team competition The battle for best team is an underrated one that usually simmers for three weeks. The competition is based on adding the times of each team’s first three finishers at every stage finale. The winning squad will have with the lowest accumulated time, and take home €50,000. Favourites: BMC Racing, Tinkoff-Saxo Bank, AG2R-La Mondiale Most aggressive rider Watch out for a rider wearing a red race number (dossard rouge) – it denotes that they were the most aggressive rider the previous day, based largely on the amount of time they spent the breakaway. However, it also has a subjective element; an eight-person jury of cycling experts conclude on winners. At the end of the 21 stages, the jury awards €20,000 to the ‘super-combative’ rider.

Favourites: Christophe Riblon (AG2R-La Mondiale), Arthur Vichot (FDJ.fr) Other frequently asked questions about the Tour de France What's the average speed of the Tour de France? The average speed of modern editions of the Tour de France is typically in the region of 40km/h (25mph). The fastest ever Tour de France average speed was 41.654 km/h (25.88mph) over the 3608km of the 2005 edition. Note, the winner that year, Lance Armstrong, was subsequently disqualified from all his Tour victories for doping. The 2010-2012 editions of the Tour averaged between 39.5 and 40km/h. Last year the speed crept up to 40.5km/h. The fastest average speed in a mass start road stage of the Tour de France is 50.355 km/h over 194.5km by Mario Cipollini in the Laval-Blois stage in 1999 .

The fastest ever prologue time trial (under 8km) is 55.152km/h over 7.2km, set by Chris Boardman in the prologue of the 1994 Tour de France in Liege. The fastest mid-length (8-30km) time trial was 54.676km/h over 19km set by David Zabriskie in the first stage of the 2005 Tour. The fastest long time trial is 54.359km/h over 49km, ridden by David Millar in stage 19 of the 2003 Tour. Average speeds in the Tour are influenced by wind direction and strength, hilliness, aerodynamics, weight, tactics and, of course, rider power output. How long is the Tour de France? The Tour's length has changed greatly since it first started in 1903 with a 2,428km race. The following year was the shortest ever Tour at 2,420km, before the trend towards longer races took hold.

This peaked in 1926 with a 5,745km race, which was the longest ever Tour de France. Since 1999, the Tour's length has varied between 3,282km and 3,657km run over 21 stages. The 2014 Tour de France is 3,664km long. Why do so many riders have the same finish time? They can't all cross the line together surely? Not everyone can cross the line at once. to avoid everyone contesting the finish, each rider in a given bunch is awarded the same time: Not everyone can cross the line at once. To avoid everyone contesting the finish, each rider in a given bunch is awarded the same time It's impossible for 180 riders to all cross the line simultaneously, of course, so the Tour (and most other stage races) operates the legal fiction that all the riders in the race's main pack cross the line at the same time as the first rider of that group. But if a split forms and the gap is larger than one second, the next group gets the time of the first rider of that group.

Overall, it's designed to save a mad rush for the line and in most cases it's too difficult to allocate separate times. How is the teams classification calculated? The teams classification is calculated based on the total time of the first three riders across the line from each team each day, rather than the first three riders on general classification from each team. The winner of this classification is the team with the lowest cumulative overall time at the end of 20 stages. If a team is reduced to less than three riders, they are eliminated from the teams competition. How do you get a negative number of points in the points classification? A number of readers have commented on a curiosity in the points classification in the fight for the green jersey, where some riders actually have negative points. This arises because the organisers impose penalties for various infractions in a number of ways. The most common is a monetary fine, paid in Swiss francs. A harsher penalty is to add time from the rider's GC time, or deduct points from their points tally. If the rider has been particularly naughty, they will be disqualified from the race.

Riders can be penalised in a lot of ways, for example, hanging onto a team car, or taking too many 'bottles' from the director sportif; answering the call of nature in front of the public (when you gotta go, you gotta go); causing another rider to crash, or otherwise riding dangerously in the bunch; hitching a ride to the finish in the Tour director, Christian Prudhomme's car; giving spectators the evil eye, and so on. What method is used to decide who wears the green jersey when two riders are tied on points? When two riders have an equal number of points, the criteria used to decide who should wear the green jersey is the rider with the most number of second places where points have been allocated, then the most number of third places, and so on. What do the climb categories mean? Mountain categories are decided by the severity of the climb and its position in the stage, among other things: Mountain categories are decided by the severity of the climb and its position in the stage, among other things Climbs are graded according to their severity, from fourth (easy) to first (hard) category, plus the very hardest climbs which are considered 'hors categorie' or 'beyond category'.

The gradings take into account the length and steepness of the climb and the position of the climb in the stage, with the quality of the road surface making up a final, less important factor. How are the gradients calculated? A grade of, say, 10 percent, simply means that the road ascends 10m for every 100m it travels horizontally. For those with a mathematical bent, it's a simple tangent ratio. Climb grades are averages for the whole climb, so a straightforward-sounding six percent grade can hide some much steeper pitches that make it a monster. So how fast are these guys, really? Average speeds, even across the same race route, can vary markedly depending on the tactics employed by various teams. Generally speaking, on a flat-ish stage of around 200km in length, the average speed of the peloton would be in excess of 50 km/h on the flatter sections and around 60 km/h in the final kilometres of the stage.

Speeds in the tour can be very high, over 60km/h on the flat sometimes: Speeds in the Tour can be very high, over 60km/h on the flat sometimes Obviously for a break to stay away, they need to be moving faster than the peloton; and by using time checks from the race organisers as well as information from team directors, the riders in the break know what speed they need to be travelling at to stay away and the riders in the bunch know what speed they need to be moving at to catch the break – which is why it almost seems to happen like clockwork when the peloton bridge the gap to the breakaway group, often with less than 10km to go. Climbing speeds are particularly difficult to place an arbitrary figure on due to the huge variation in gradients, relative altitude, temperature, wind velocity and direction, and road surfaces. Again, generally speaking, on a climb like Mont Ventoux with an average gradient of around 7.5 percent, the riders in the "laughing group" would be travelling at around 10km/h on the steeper sections of the climb due to its severity.

Again, the speeds encountered in bunch sprints vary depending on the type of finish; however the winners in previous stages of the Tour de France have reached speeds in excess of 70km/h. Now that's movin'. How do the organisers decide the start order for the prologue and following time trials throughout the race? The start order for the prologue of any Grand Tour is determined by race management, with last year's winner always riding last. The start order for the following time trials is based on a rider's time on general classification from the stage prior to the time trial, with the riders lowest on the overall classification leaving first. If a rider was first last year and wears number 1, why doesn't last year's second place wear number 2? The only rider number that indicates the placing of a rider from the previous year's race is the overall winner. There is no particular order for the riders from other teams, though it is customary for the team's protected GC rider to also wear the dossard that ends in a one – 11, 31 181, etc. Related Links Tour de France 101: What do different color jerseys mean?

- CSMonitor.com Tour de France 101: What do different color jerseys mean? Andy Schleck of Luxembourg (l.) and Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, ride in the pack during the sixth stage of the Tour de France on Friday. Christophe Ena/AP of What do the different color Tour de France jerseys mean? YELLOW: The maillot jaune, the yellow jersey, is the signature chemise of the Tour de France . It designates the overall leader of the race so far. When cyclists finish the three-week race by cruising through the streets of Paris , the photo of the yellow-shirted winner is seen around the globe. The yellow jersey is awarded after each of the 20 stages, or race days, to the rider who is the overall leader of the race so far. Each day the total amount of time taken to finish that stage is added to the cumulative time of all previous races, and the overall leader is determined. The next day, he wears the yellow throughout the stage. Recommended: Could you pass a US citizenship test? GREEN: The green jersey, or maillot vert, is the sprinter’s jersey.

At every stage, points are awarded to the first 10-25 riders that cross the finish line. The amount of sprint points awarded depends on the day’s course (a flat course produces more points than the mountain terrain) and in what place the rider finishes that day. Some stages have mini-sprints within the stage that are worth points. German Erik Zabel holds the record for winning the final green jersey in the Tour six consecutive times, between 1996 and 2001. Photos of the Day Photos of the day 02/08 WHITE WITH RED POLKA DOTS: This is the King of the Mountains jersey. Points are awarded to the first rider to reach the crest of designated hills and mountains. Mountains are graded according to steepness, length, and position on the course, and points correspond to the grade. The best climber awards began in 1933, and the maillot à pois rouges was first worn in 1975. WHITE: This jersey is worn by the fastest overall rider under the age of 25 (on Jan. 1 in the year of the race). The first white jersey was worn in 1975.

There are other prizes and competitions within the Tour de France that don’t involve jerseys. For example, the most combative rider of each stage – the one who tries to break clear of the field – will wear a red number on a white background, instead of the usual black on white. And the team prize – based on the team with the fastest three riders – wears a black number on a yellow background. More Tour de France 101 stories: Sporting stakes / rules - Tour de France 2015 Sporting stakes / Rules Sporting stakes / rules What is there to win? The rules are the bible for a sporting competition. Through their balance and subtleties, they must ensure equality, motivate the riders and help spectators and viewers to understand the event. Here is an outline of the main points in the rules. Download the rules (pdf, 23 pages, 1.3 Mo) The Stakes In the pack of 198 riders, there are many different objectives, depending on the temperament, qualities and missions of each rider. The most collective of individual sports involves the majority of them in multi-layered strategies. The distinctive jerseys and other goals to be achieved during the 3 weeks of racing are listed below.

Stage victories The 21 stages of Le Tour 2015 are divided up as follows: 9 flat stages, 3 hilly stages, 7 mountain stages with 5 high-altitude finishes, 1 individual time-trial stage and 1 team time-trial stage. The stage victory has been sponsored by Powerbar. The Yellow Jersey It is worn by the leader of the general individual time classification. The Yellow Jersey has been sponsored by LCL since 1987. The Green Jersey It is worn by the leader of the points classification. The points are won on the intermediate sprints and at the stage. The Green Jersey has been sponsored by Skoda since 2015. The Red Polka Dot Jersey It is worn by the best climber. Points for the best climber classification are awarded at the top of any classified slope. The prize money is doubled on the stage finishes that will take place at the summit of climbs. The Polka Dot Jersey has been sponsored by Carrefour. The White Jersey It is worn by the best young rider aged 25 years old or less (in the running year) in the general individual time classification.

The White jersey has been sponsored by Krys since 2015. Most Aggressive rider prize This distinction is awarded at the end of each stage by a jury made up of cycling specialists. An overall winner is designated after the last stage of Le Tour. The Most aggressive rider Prize has been sponsored by Antargaz since 2014. The team classification This classification is determined by adding the times of the best three riders of each team in each stage (except for the team time-trial). The team classification has been sponsored by RAGT Semences. Only one time-trial 14 kilometres in the streets of Utrecht to kick off. It’ll be the only solo effort of the 2015 edition, in other words the shortest mileage since the introduction of time-trials in 1947. However, the strong riders will have another opportunity to express themselves during stage 9, a 28 km team time-trial. Seconds up for grabs Time bonuses are awarded at all of road stage finishes that is to say with the exception of the individual and team time trial stages. They are 10, 6 and 4 seconds to the first three riders to finish.

Points to conquer Except for stage 9 that will be a team time-trial, points counting for the Green Jersey classification will be up for grabs at the finishes as well as the intermediate sprints of the normal stages. A new points scale will give greater value to first position. The points of the Best Climber’s classification will be given out at the top of each listed hill or mountain and points will be doubled at the summit finishes (La Pierre-Saint-Martin, Plateau de Beille, Pra-Loup, La Toussuire - Les Sybelles, Alpe-d’Huez). Points distribution The Green Jersey will be rewarded to the points’ classification leader. Points will be given out at the finish of each stage and at a single intermediate sprint on each of the normal road stages. The Polka-Dot Jersey will be worn by the leader of the best climbers’ classification. Points will be given at the top of each mountain and hill. They will be doubled for the mountain-top finishes. Helmets must be worn at all times All riders must wear a helmet for the entire duration of each stage and on each stage.

Falls in the last three kilometres As has been the case since 2005, riders involved in a fall in the last three kilometres of a stage are given the same finishing time as the group which they belonged to. This rule is not applicable in time-trial stages and stages that finish at the summit of a climb. Jersey wearers after the stage 1 The Jerseys of the Tour - Tour de France 2015 The Jerseys of the Tour Homepage > The Jerseys of the Tour The Jerseys of the Tour THE EMOTION OF THE RACE © Le Coq Sportif Presentation Since 2012, the French athletic brand has provided Tour de France riders with high-tech, custom-designed products that prove its textile expertise. The 2015 Yellow Jersey THE TOUR MARKS 40 YEARS ON THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES A combination of technical detail and design, the 2015 Yellow Jersey celebrates the 40th Tour de France finish on the Champs-Elysées. This anniversary edition takes us back to the day when French cyclist Bernard Thévenet became the first man to don the Yellow Jersey on the world's most beautiful avenue.

The jerseys use high-tech materials designed specifically for each section and have an anatomical cut for better breathability and adherence while you ride. The short sleeves are made of a supple, seamless elastane blend fabric for added comfort. The sleeves extend to just below the triceps, eliminating pressure and encouraging circulation in the arms. The mid-length zipper and back ventilation panels - a triangular panel in ultra-breathable 3D mesh at the base of the neck and, just beneath it, a panel that covers the back, made of micro-aerated mesh - encourage air circulation. Each detail effectively regulates riders' body temperatures as the weather conditions change, reducing the amount of energy they expend. Comfort and aerodynamics, two key priorities for riders, are finally ensured thanks to the jersey's non-chafing flat seams, the silicone strip at the hem, the elastic on the back, and the polyurethane strips at the base of the sleeves, for perfect support. © Le Coq Sportif © Le Coq Sportif The Green Jersey The green jersey was created in 1953 for the 50th anniversary of the race. It brought a new interest to the race, the yellow jersey not being the only jersey at stake any longer.

The first green jersey in history was held by Swiss Fritz Schaer. It is worn by the leader of the points classification. Points are being awarded in the intermediate sprints and the stage finishes. © Le Coq Sportif The Polka-Dot Jersey The King of the Mountains classification was created in 1933 for the best climbers (first winner: Spain’s Vicente Trueba). But the polka-dot jersey only appeared in 1975. France’s Richard Virenque holds the record of most KOM jerseys: he won it seven times between 1994 and 2004. © Le Coq Sportif The White Jersey It was created in 1975. In 1988, the jersey was abandoned, but not the best young rider classification. The white jersey was reintroduced in the peloton in 2000. It rewards the best-placed under-25 rider in the overall standings.

The jersey revealed some of the best talents in the sport – Denis Menchov in 2003, Alberto Contador in 2007, Andy Schleck from 2008 and 2010, Pierre Rolland in 2012. © Le Coq Sportif The Etape du Tour Jersey DESIGN AND MODERNITY Le coq sportif has released the 2015 Etape du Tour jersey. The brand is an official partner of this top international cycling race, which will see 15,000 riders set off on Sunday 19 July, from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire. The elegant jersey features a subtle graphic print of the race route against a gradient blue background. This Premium version is made of the same material as the Tour de France leaders' jerseys. The tricolour lines depict the different peaks and stages, with the text "L’Étape du Tour" printed on either side. This great-looking, high-performance jersey is sure to be a hit with cycling enthusiasts.

The 2015 TOUR DE FRANCE jerseys are available at lecoqsportif.com Emile Camuset opens a hosiery factory in Romilly-Sur-Seine, in the Aube. 1903 © A.S.O. HENRI DESGRANGE Henri Desgrange creates a cycling contest that will become one of the cultest sporting events ever, Le Tour De France. 1930 Le Coq Sportif creates its first cycling jersey, the No 29. 1951 © A.S.O. LE COQ SPORTIF STEPS IN THE GRANDE BOUCLE Thanks to its modern jerseys, le coq sportif becomes the official tour de france' jerseys provider. a first recognition for the brand with the triangle. 1953 © A.S.O. LOUISON BOBET Louison Bobet reigns on the cycling world with Coppi in the first half of the 50s. Popular and brave champion, he wins the first Tour de France of his career in 1953, his 6th participation. In the picture, Louison doing his first lap of honour at the Parc des Princes for the 50th anniversary of the Tour.

1961 © A.S.O. JACQUES ANQUETIL X RAYMOND POULIDOR Four years after his first victory, Jacques Anquetil takes part to the Tour for the fourth time. Anquetil declares that he wants to take up the challenge of wearing the yellow jersey from the first to the last phase of the contest, something he will indeed achieve. 1964 Forever the runner up of the Tour de France behind Jacques Anquetil in the 60s and then behind Eddy Merckx in the 70s, Poulidor "Poupou" enjoys a great popularity with the French public. He never wore the yellow jersey, failing by a handful of seconds, 14 exactly, on the summit of the Puy de Dome in 1964. He was neck and neck with Anquetil during the entire ascent only to fail at the top, in what is still nowadays a cult Tour de France duel. 1969 © A.S.O. EDDY MERCKX During the Tour de France 1969, Eddy Merckx takes cyclism to a new age after his incredible performance in the ride to Mourenx.

He is already the leader of the Tour by far, the Belgian rider, also nicknamed "The Cannibal", affords himself a solo break away over 140 km to win with 8 minutes over his challengers. He wins the first of his five Tour de France. 1975 The Jerseys of the Tour - Tour de France 2016 The Jerseys of the Tour Homepage > The Jerseys of the Tour The Jerseys of the Tour THE EMOTION OF THE RACE © Le Coq Sportif Presentation Since 2012, the French athletic brand has provided Tour de France riders with high-tech, custom-designed products that prove its textile expertise. BLEU, BLANC, JAUNE After two starts in other countries, the Tour is back in France, kicking off at the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel. To celebrate this homecoming, the leaders’ jerseys will bear the national colours on trim along both back seams. Le coq sportif’s jerseys give the leaders the best of its savoir-faire, through a combination of high-tech materials designed specifically for each section and have an anatomical cut for better breathability and adherence while you ride. The short sleeves are made of a supple, seamless elastane blend fabric for added comfort.

The sleeves extend to just below the triceps, eliminating pressure and encouraging circulation in the arms. The mid-length zipper and the ultra-breathable full back vent encourage air circulation. Each detail effectively regulates riders’ body temperatures as the weather conditions change, reducing the amount of energy they expend. Comfort and aerodynamics, two key priorities for riders, are finally ensured thanks to the jersey’s non-chafing flat seams, the silicone strip at the hem, the elastic on the back, and the polyurethane strips at the base of the sleeves, for perfect support. These jerseys, and the 14 July Yellow Jersey from the 2015 Tour, feature the performance logo on a tricolour arched podium. This superb logo made its début in the 2015-2016 season on items for many of the brand’s sponsored clubs and athletes. The legendary Yellow Jersey - worn by the general leader - along with the Green Jersey for best sprinter, the White Jersey for best young rider, and the King of the Mountains’ red Polka-dot Jersey, were made in le coq sportif’s workshops in Romilly-sur-Seine, in the Aube.

© Le Coq Sportif © Le Coq Sportif The Green Jersey The green jersey was created in 1953 for the 50th anniversary of the race. It brought a new interest to the race, the yellow jersey not being the only jersey at stake any longer. The first green jersey in history was held by Swiss Fritz Schaer. It is worn by the leader of the points classification. Points are being awarded in the intermediate sprints and the stage finishes. © Le Coq Sportif The Polka-Dot Jersey The King of the Mountains classification was created in 1933 for the best climbers (first winner: Spain’s Vicente Trueba). But the polka-dot jersey only appeared in 1975. France’s Richard Virenque holds the record of most KOM jerseys: he won it seven times between 1994 and 2004. © Le Coq Sportif The White Jersey It was created in 1975. In 1988, the jersey was abandoned, but not the best young rider classification. The white jersey was reintroduced in the peloton in 2000.

It rewards the best-placed under-25 rider in the overall standings. The jersey revealed some of the best talents in the sport – Denis Menchov in 2003, Alberto Contador in 2007, Andy Schleck from 2008 and 2010, Pierre Rolland in 2012. The 2016 TOUR DE FRANCE jerseys are available at lecoqsportif.com Emile Camuset opens a hosiery factory in Romilly-Sur-Seine, in the Aube. 1903 © A.S.O. HENRI DESGRANGE Henri Desgrange creates a cycling contest that will become one of the cultest sporting events ever, Le Tour De France. 1930 Le Coq Sportif creates its first cycling jersey, the No 29. 1951 © A.S.O. LE COQ SPORTIF STEPS IN THE GRANDE BOUCLE Thanks to its modern jerseys, le coq sportif becomes the official tour de france' jerseys provider. a first recognition for the brand with the triangle. 1953 © A.S.O.

LOUISON BOBET Louison Bobet reigns on the cycling world with Coppi in the first half of the 50s. Popular and brave champion, he wins the first Tour de France of his career in 1953, his 6th participation. In the picture, Louison doing his first lap of honour at the Parc des Princes for the 50th anniversary of the Tour. 1961 © A.S.O. JACQUES ANQUETIL X RAYMOND POULIDOR Four years after his first victory, Jacques Anquetil takes part to the Tour for the fourth time. Anquetil declares that he wants to take up the challenge of wearing the yellow jersey from the first to the last phase of the contest, something he will indeed achieve. 1964 Forever the runner up of the Tour de France behind Jacques Anquetil in the 60s and then behind Eddy Merckx in the 70s, Poulidor "Poupou" enjoys a great popularity with the French public.

He never wore the yellow jersey, failing by a handful of seconds, 14 exactly, on the summit of the Puy de Dome in 1964. He was neck and neck with Anquetil during the entire ascent only to fail at the top, in what is still nowadays a cult Tour de France duel. 1969 © A.S.O. EDDY MERCKX During the Tour de France 1969, Eddy Merckx takes cyclism to a new age after his incredible performance in the ride to Mourenx. He is already the leader of the Tour by far, the Belgian rider, also nicknamed "The Cannibal", affords himself a solo break away over 140 km to win with 8 minutes over his challengers. He wins the first of his five Tour de France. 1975 Classifications - Tour de France 2014 Classifications Corresponds to the total results over all the stages. Yellow jersey It rewards the leader of the general classification, calculated by adding together the times achieved on each stage. Also taken into account are any bonifications earned on the intermediate sprints or the finish. Green jersey It identifies the leader of the classification on points.

The points in question are awarded according to the passing order on the intermediate sprints and at the finish line. Red polka dot jersey It identifies the best climber. The points counting towards the mountain classification are awarded on the basis of the passing order at the top of the climbs and passes. White jersey It identifies the first young rider up to 25 years old in the overall standings. Yellow bib Worn by the leaders of the overall team standings (total of times for the first three riders on each stage). Red bib This prize is awarded at the end of each stage by a jury comprising eight specialists in cycling. A “super-combativity” prize is also awarded at the end of the last stage of the Tour. Stage standing Green jersey - 必应 Sign in Green jersey The green jersey is a term used in road bicycle racing and Grand Tour stage races in particular. The green jersey is a distinctive racing jersey worn by the leader in a subsidiary competition. While the overall race leader in the Tour de France will wear the yellow jersey, or "maillot jaune", the green jersey ("maillot vert") will be worn by the leader in the points competition.

Since 2009, the Vuelta a España has also used the green jersey to signify the leader of the points competition. In the Giro d'Italia, the green jersey was, from 1974 to 2011, worn by the King of the Mountains, the leader in the competition for climbing specialists. The Tour de France: a guide to the basics - Telegraph Tour de France The Tour de France: a guide to the basics Confused by the cols? Puzzled by the peloton? The Tour de France is more popular than ever in England but it hasn't got any easier to understand. For all of you who find yourself a little confused as the world's biggest bike race winds its way around France, here are a few basic pointers to guide you... Safety in numbers: Team Sky's Ian Stannard, Luke Rowe and Wout Poels protect their leader, Chris Froome Photo: EPA Follow There are some sports you can switch on and grasp what's going on within a few seconds. They've scored more goals, she has more points, he's in front of him, etc.

The fact that a tennis game went against serve or that one Formula 1 driver's had more pit stops than another is about as complicated as the tactical situation gets. Not so the Tour de France . The most famous of cycling's grand tours is, for many, about as easy to understand as it would be to win on the clapped-out, rusted old Raleigh in the shed. How can a rider win it without winning a single stage? What do all the different coloured jerseys mean? And just how do they go the toilet? Terminology is presented here both in English and, for those out to impress, en Français. The race and its various stages The Tour goes on for three weeks, during which the riders cover about 3,500km in a rough circuit of the country. It is divided into 21 days of racing, with each day's stage lasting up to five and a half hours and covering up to 225km. Some stages are relatively flat, some torturously mountainous. Each stage has its own winner and offers points for the first 15 riders across both the finish line and and intermediate line around halfway through.

The Tour comprises five competitions in total: the general classification, points classification, mountains classification, best young rider, and team classification. The rider that completes all the stages in the lowest time over three weeks comes top of the general classification and wins the Tour. The points and mountains classifications are won on points, the general, young rider and team classifications on time. More on that later. Teams and riders A total of 198 riders start the Tour in 22 teams of nine. Each team is followed around the course by a support car, from which a sporting director (directeur sportif) can give instructions over the radio, refresh water and supplies, and give mechanical help and replacement bikes during the race. Riders can also get mechanical help from a neutral service car in the event of a puncture or other failure, and treatment from the medical car. Each team of nine riders will have a leader, with the remaining riders – known as domestiques, literally 'servant' riders – responsible for supporting him in doing what he does best, whether that's getting stage wins, accumulating points, or going for the overall win.

In the case of British Team Sky, they have an overall contender in Chris Froome and the team's job includes protecting him, setting the pace for him, and chasing down attacks by other contenders. If the leader of the group were a good sprinter say, not in contention for the overall win, the team focus would be getting him near the front of the bunch on stages with sprints, where points can be won toward getting the green jersey. The different competitions and jerseys The yellow jersey (maillot jaune): the most important one, as we all know. The famous yellow jersey is worn by the rider at the top of the general classification, meaning they have completed the stages so far in the least time. Wearing yellow in the Tour for just a day or two can be the highlight of a cyclist's career. At the end it goes to the winner. Contenders for the yellow jersey don't worry about winning every stage, or maybe even any. As long as the riders in front of them on the road are a good way behind them in the overall standings, they will concentrate on where the other yellow jersey contenders are relative to them.

The green jersey (maillot vert): goes to the rider with the most points overall, leader of the points classification. Points are given for the first 15 riders across an intermediate sprint line about halfway through the race and the finish line. It is sprinters like Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan who tend to aim for the green jersey. The polka-dot jersey (maillot a pois): a prestigious garment, this is also known as the 'King of the Mountains' jersey. The red polka dots go to the rider who has won the most points in the mountain sections of stages by reaching the top of categorised climbs first. Like the green jersey system, but specifically for the climbers. The white jersey (maillot blanc): a junior yellow basically. Given to the rider under 26 with the lowest overall time. Those are the four main jerseys, there is also the rainbow stripes on white worn by the world champion, currently Michal Kwiatkowski, and jerseys with nation colours are worn by the champions of individual countries. Last (and probably least), the team classification, which goes to the fastest team.

Measured by the times of the top three riders, the team classification is rewarded with a yellow race number and the opportunity to all wear yellow helmets. A red race number is awarded to the most combative rider of the previous day's stage - someone who has put in a decent attack or two during the day. Sprints and 'lead-out trains' Teams built around sprinters often create a lead-out train in the run up to the finish or intermediate sprint, guiding their fast-man through the front of the pack where he can break out from behind his final lead out man and make a dash for it. Going solo and piggy-baking on other teams' wheels is known as 'freelancing'. Time trials The vast majority of the stages of the Tour are long road races, but there are also two or three time trials. Often called the race of truth ('you can't hide from the clock'), they see the riders set off at regular intervals, racing alone against time along a shorter course than normal stages. The time they take on the course is then simply added to their overall time. Special time trial bikes are used for these stages and a different cycling position, designed to be more aerodynamic at the cost of comfort and stability.

Breakaways and attacks The Tour is a tactical affair. Riders don't simply set off attempting to go as fast as they can at all times. They largely ride together in a main group called the peloton with small groups breaking away off the front in nearly every stage. It is customary for a group of three to six or so riders to break off the peloton early and go out ahead, often just to reward their sponsor with some time on camera, sometimes hoping they can make it stick for the whole day's racing and take a stage win. The breakaways rarely contain overall contenders, and the peloton will happily let them stray around five to 10 minutes down the road, depending on who's among them, before swallowing them up again when they have tired out. Attacks, which often take place on climbs, will see a rider suddenly break away from the group he is with and accelerate ahead hoping that the other riders will not be able to stay with him. Domestique riders can be vital when leaders attack, pacing them up the climbs and chasing down other attacks by other leaders to try and stay in control.

Crashes The early stages of this year's Tour were marred by several big bunch crashes, likely down to what commentators like to call a "nervous peloton" at the beginning of the Tour. Crashes can destroy an overall contender's hopes in seconds, which is why teams like Team Sky and BMC Racing like to ride right at the front of the peloton where they are least at risk of being taken out by a crash. Riders who get knocked off or held up by crashes in the last 3km of a stage are awarded the same time as the rest of the peloton. Etiquette The Tour is a gentlemanly affair, for the most part, with riders often slowing down to allow others to catch up after a crash or puncture. Attacking in the wake of such incidents is frowned upon. The yellow jersey is often looked to in such incidents to lead the peloton. Eating, drinking, using the bathroom. People do get to wondering, with the riders out for up to five hours a day on their bikes, how they eat, drink and use the toilet.

Each stage has a feeding station along the way, at which riders will grab a bag (musette) from someone working for their team standing on the side of the road. The bags contain things like energy bars and gels, as well as sandwiches and drinks. As for going to the toilet, riders will sometimes just take care of business while riding, with other riders taking care not to overtake at the time. Other times the peloton will generally agree to stop up by the side of the road somewhere discrete, with few spectators, and the cameras will artfully cut away to show viewers a nice bit of local architecture or geography with some historical commentary to boot. That stuffed lion One of the most confusing elements of all for the novice viewer: why do they give the yellow jersey holder a stuffed lion at the end of the stage? Not a symbol of riderly prowess, unfortunately, but the logo of French bank Credit Lyonnaise, which has sponsored the jersey since 1987.

Question: Which colour of jersey is worn by the leader in the points classification in the Tour de France?
Answer: GREEN